In one of the work packages of the EU-Research project CHANGE (www.changeantifouling.com), LimnoMar will perform histological studies on molluscs and amphipods, previously exposed in leisure boat harbours and reference stations at the Swedish coast in cooperation with the University Stockholm, Dep. ACES.

These investigations belong to a large work package focusing on measurements of mixtures toxicities from boat activities and development of new methods. An important objective of the project is to develop and use relevant test organisms and study characteristics in these for early signs of effects of hazardous compounds or of mixtures of contaminants. Thus, we will develop a range of new bioassays in the lab and in the field to directly measure effects from hazardous substances present in antifouling paints or mixtures of hazardous substances from boat yard soil and sediment samples. Advanced video-monitoring behavioral assays will be used to establish sub-lethal effects on behaviors related to the overall fitness of the organism such as chemically-mediated homing behavior, mate search and fecundity in gastropods, crustaceans and fish. The aim is that these methods will better fulfill the need in WFD, MSFD, and BSAP for predictions than existing methods and in the future will become established tools for measurement of mixture toxicity in different matrices and monitoring.

The histological investigations will elucidate acute and chronic/sublethal effects which may occur in harbours at summertime when boat density and activity is the highest of the season. Sessile snails and amphipods will probably reflect harmful effects of the mixture of biocides released into the harbour basins. The evaluation of the histological slides will screen the respiratory, reproductive and alimentary organs to cover the whole range of alterations, possibly induced.